Venezuela Population: 28,459,085
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| Background | |
| Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president from 1999 to 2013, sought to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purported to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, rampant violent crime, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples. |
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| Geography | |
| On major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall | |
| Location: | Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana |
| Geographic coordinates: | 8 00 N, 66 00 W |
| Area: | total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km Size comparison: slightly more than twice the size of California |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km |
| Coastline: | 2,800 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 15 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
| Climate: | tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands |
| Terrain: | Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar 5,007 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.88% other: 96.27% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 5,800 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts |
| Current Environment Issues: | sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements |
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| People | |
| Population: | 28,459,085 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 28.6% (male 4,144,958/female 3,989,521) 15-24 years: 18.8% (male 2,686,366/female 2,664,062) 25-54 years: 39.5% (male 5,520,689/female 5,727,432) 55-64 years: 7.3% (male 993,176/female 1,094,586) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 722,234/female 916,061) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 26.3 years male: 25.6 years female: 27.1 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.468% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 19.88 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 20.18 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 74.08 years male: 70.98 years female: 77.34 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.37 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA; note - no country specific models provided |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan |
| Ethnic groups: | Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people |
| Religions: | nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2% |
| Languages: | Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 93.3% female: 92.7% (2001 census) |
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| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela |
| Government type: | federal republic |
| Capital: | name: Caracas geographic coordinates: 10 29 N, 66 52 W time difference: UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands |
| Independence: | 5 July 1811 (from Spain) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 5 July (1811) |
| Constitution: | 30 December 1999; amended 15 February 2009 |
| Legal system: | civil law system based on the Spanish civil code |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President (Acting) Nicolas MADURO Moros (since 8 March 2013); Executive Vice President (Acting) Jorge ARREAZA (since 8 March 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; former Executive Vice President Nicolas MADURO Moros assumed presidential responsibilites after the death of President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias on 5 March 2013, and was officially sworn in on 8 March 2013 head of government: President (Acting) Nicolas MADURO Moros (since 8 March 2013); Executive Vice President (Acting) Jorge ARREAZA (since 8 March 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for unlimited reelection); election last held on 7 October 2012 (next election will be a special election held on 14 April 2013 following the death of President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias on 5 March 2013; the next scheduled election after this is expected to be held in October 2018 pending official convocation by the country's electoral body) note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of this constitution; in 2009, a national referendum approved the elimination of term limits on all elected officials, including the presidency election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 55.07%, Henrique CAPRILES Radonski 44.31%, other 0.62% |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats; members elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela) elections: last held on 26 September 2010 (next to be held in 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - pro-government 48.9%, opposition coalition 47.9%, other 3.2%; seats by party - pro-government 98, opposition 65, other 2 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (32 magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term) |
| Political parties and leaders: | A New Time or UNT [Omar BARBOZA]; Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Antonio LEDEZMA]; Christian Democrats or COPEI [Roberto ENRIQUEZ]; Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS ALLUP]; Fatherland for All or PPT [Rafael UZCATEGUI]; For Social Democracy or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Nicolas SOSA]; Popular Will or VP [Leopoldo LOPEZ]; Progressive Wave or AP [Henri FALCON]; The Democratic Unity Table or MUD [Ramon Guillermo AVELEDO]; The Radical Cause [Daniel SANTOLO]; United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV [Simon CALZADILLA]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS ROMER] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Bolivarian and Socialist Workers' Union (a ruling party labor union); Confederacion Venezolana de Industriales or Coindustria (a conservative business group); Consejos Comunales (pro-Chavez local cooperatives); FEDECAMARAS (a conservative business group); Union of Oil Workers of Venezuela or FUTPV; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (opposition-oriented labor organization); various civil society groups and human rights organizations |
| International organization participation: | Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angelo Agustin RIVERO Santos chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214 FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James M. DERHAM embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (212) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours) FAX: [58] (212) 907-8199 |
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| Economy | |
| Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 95% of export earnings, about 45% of federal budget revenues, and around 12% of GDP. Fueled by high oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP growth by 4.2% in 2011, after a sharp drop in oil prices caused an economic contraction in 2009-10. Government spending, minimum wage hikes, and improved access to domestic credit created an increase in consumption which combined with supply problems to cause higher inflation - roughly 26% in 2011 and 21% in 2012. President Hugo CHAVEZ's efforts to increase the government's control of the economy by nationalizing firms in the agribusiness, financial, construction, oil, and steel sectors have hurt the private investment environment, reduced productive capacity, and slowed non-petroleum exports. In the first half of 2010 Venezuela faced the prospect of lengthy nationwide blackouts when its main hydroelectric power plant - which provides more than 35% of the country's electricity - nearly shut down. In May 2010, CHAVEZ closed the unofficial foreign exchange market - the "parallel market" - in an effort to stem inflation and slow the currency's depreciation. In June 2010, the government created the "Transaction System for Foreign Currency Denominated Securities" to replace the "parallel" market. In December 2010, CHAVEZ eliminated the dual exchange rate system and unified the exchange rate at 4.3 bolivars per dollar. In January 2011, CHAVEZ announced the second devaluation of the bolivar within twelve months. In December 2010, the National Assembly passed a package of five organic laws designed to complete the transformation of the Venezuelan economy in line with CHAVEZ's vision of 21st century socialism. In 2012, Venezuela continued to wrestle with a housing crisis, high inflation, an electricity crisis, and rolling food and goods shortages - all of which were fallout from the government's unorthodox economic policies. The budget deficit for the entire government reached 17% of GDP in 2012, and public debt as a percent of GDP climbed steeply to 49%, despite record oil prices. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $402.1 billion (2012 est.) $380.2 billion (2011 est.) $364.9 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $338 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 5.7% (2012 est.) 4.2% (2011 est.) -1.5% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $13,200 (2012 est.) $12,800 (2011 est.) $12,500 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3.7% industry: 35.3% services: 61.1% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 13.7 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 7.3% industry: 21.8% services: 70.9% (4th quarter, 2011) |
| Unemployment rate: | 8% (2012 est.) 8.2% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 31.6% (2011 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 32.7% (2006) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 39 (2011) 49.5 (1998) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20.9% (2012 est.) 26.1% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 19.3% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $116.3 billion expenditures: $175.3 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 49% of GDP (2012 est.) 29% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover central government debt, as well as the debt of state-owned oil company PDVSA; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include some debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; some debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions. |
| Agriculture - products: | corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish |
| Industries: | petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly, chemical products, paper products |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 3.4% (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 127.6 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 85.05 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 633 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 260 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 31.2 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 33.1 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 1.446 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 5.524 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $20.6 billion (2012 est.) $27.21 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $96.9 billion (2012 est.) $92.6 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, minerals, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures |
| Exports - partners: | US 40.2%, China 10.5%, India 5.5%, Cuba 4% (2011) |
| Imports: | $56.69 billion (2012 est.) $46.44 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | agricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products |
| Imports - partners: | US 28.6%, China 15.1%, Brazil 10.6% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $25.23 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $29.89 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $63.74 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $89.6 billion (30 September 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $49.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $45.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $21.95 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $19.81 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $5.143 billion (31 December 2011) $3.991 billion (31 December 2010) $8.86 billion (31 December 2010) |
| Exchange rates: | bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 4.289 (2012 est.) 4.289 (2011 est.) 2.5821 (2010 est.) 2.147 (2009) 2.147 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 7.332 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 24 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 28.782 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services; combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 130 per 100 persons international: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network; constructing submarine cable to provide connectivity to Cuba with an estimated date of completion in late 2011 (2010) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .ve |
| Internet hosts: | 1.016 million (2012) |
| Internet users: | 8.918 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 492 (2012) country comparison to the world: 15 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 128 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 17 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 364 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 55 914 to 1,523 m: 113 under 914 m: 193 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 3 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | extra heavy crude 980 km; gas 5,347 km; oil 6,694 km; refined products 1,620 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 806 km standard gauge: 806 km 1.435-m gauge (41 km electrified) (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (2002) |
| Waterways: | 7,100 km (the Orinoco River (400 km) and Lake de Maracaibo are navigable by oceangoing vessels) (2011) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 53 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 12, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 5, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 16 foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Greece 4, Mexico 1, Spain 1) registered in other countries: 14 (Panama 13, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon oil terminals: Jose terminal |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB): Bolivarian National Army (Ejercito Nacional Bolivariano, ENB), Bolivarian Navy (Armada Bolivariana, AB; includes Naval Infantry, Coast Guard, Naval Aviation), Bolivarian Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar Bolivariana, AMB), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB) (2011) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 30-month conscript service obligation; Navy requires 6th-grade education for enlisted personnel; all citizens of military service age (18-60 years old) are obligated to register for military service (2011) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 7,013,854 females age 16-49: 7,165,661 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 5,614,743 females age 16-49: 6,074,834 (2010 est.) |
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